1,296 illegals nabbed as ESSCom steps up operation

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LAHAD DATU: A total of 1,296 persons, believed to be illegal immigrants, were nabbed in 17 Ops Gasak operations that were coordinated by Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) since November 24, last year at Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZone).

ESSCom operations director DCP Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun said they were among 3,323 individuals inspected during the integrated operations that involved the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Immigration Department and National Registration Department.

Abdul Rashid said those individuals were detained for not having any documents or having suspicious documents.

“ESSCom will intensify Ops Gasak to clean ESSZone from illegal immigrants. This also showed that the government is serious in addressing illegal immigrants and cross-border crimes, thus ensuring the safety of the people,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Apart from island resorts and coastal villages, Abdul Rashid said Ops Gasak was also launched at fish farms following a kidnapping incident at Pulau Baik on May 6 when a fish farm manager was kidnapped by five armed men using a boat.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rashid said 62 illegal immigrants, including 31 women, were detained during Ops Gasak 17 at Kampung Lok Bikin, Pulau Sakar, here yesterday.

He added that the three-hour operation involved the Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Immigration Department, and National Registration Department.